Welcome

Jocelyn L. Lobo

Group Finance Manager

Chartered Accountant building finance teams across insurance, e-commerce, and sustainable manufacturing

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Ten Years in Finance

I'm a Chartered Accountant based in Dubai. Over the past decade, I've run finance operations for companies in insurance, e-commerce, sustainable manufacturing, and professional services across four continents.

My career started at Ernst & Young doing audits. From there I moved into industry, first at Zilingo where I helped raise $226M in Series-D funding, then at MIC Global managing 21 entities across Asia, Africa, Europe, and North America. I've handled acquisitions worth millions, shut down entities that weren't working, and built finance teams from scratch.

Right now I'm at Nestera, a sustainable solutions company. I set up their Dubai office from nothing, found the space, hired the team, got the licenses, and now manage compliance and reporting across five countries: UAE, India, Netherlands, Germany, and the USA.

10+ Years of Experience
21 Entities Managed
4 Continents
$226M Fundraising Led

What I Do

Financial Planning & Analysis

Budgeting and forecasting using both top-down and bottom-up approaches. I build variance analyses that actually explain what happened, not just what changed. Quarterly board packs and KPI dashboards that highlight the metrics that matter.

Group Consolidation

Consolidating financials across multiple entities and currencies without losing track of intercompany balances. Transfer pricing documentation, reconciliations between subsidiaries, and keeping everything IFRS-compliant.

Treasury & Cash Flow

Managing banking relationships, cashflow planning, and capital infusion timing across multiple entities. I track operational runway, optimize working capital, and ensure there's always enough liquidity to keep things running smoothly.

Team Leadership

I've built finance teams from zero to nine people across different time zones. My approach is straightforward: hire for curiosity, train for technical skills, and give people ownership of their work. Most of my direct reports have moved on to bigger roles.

Audit & Compliance

Statutory audits under US GAAP and IFRS. I've managed audit processes for holding companies and subsidiaries across India, Singapore, Malaysia, Hong Kong, South Africa, Pakistan, Ghana, UAE, Netherlands, Germany, and the USA. Tax compliance, internal controls, regulatory filings, the full stack.

ERP & Systems

I don't just implement ERPs, I figure out what the business actually needs first. Requirements gathering with stakeholders, vendor evaluation, implementation oversight, and training. I've automated manual processes that were eating up hours every month.

Professional Journey

Jan 2025 - Present

Group Finance Manager

Nestera Dubai, UAE

Multinational sustainable solutions company. 6 entities across 3 continents. Reporting to CEO, managing 5 finance professionals.

  • Established Dubai operations from ground zero and set up financial structure and compliance framework for UAE, India, Netherlands, Germany, and USA
  • Built and scaled finance team from inception to full operational capacity
  • Reduced operational costs by negotiating vendor contracts and streamlining procurement across Europe and Asia
  • Lead finance operations, banking relationships, and lender interactions including cashflow planning
Nov 2020 - Jan 2025

Group Finance Manager

MIC Global Dubai, UAE

Full-stack embedded microinsurance company. 21 entities across 4 continents. Reporting to CFO, managing 8 finance professionals.

  • Executed detachments and sale of businesses in South Africa, Pakistan, and Ghana valued at $2.2M
  • Led integration of a full-stack tech company acquisition for claims and policies services, deal value $2.5M
  • Redesigned reporting to enable segment tracking, department cost mapping against revenue, and key insurance metrics
  • Managed group and entity budgeting using top-down and bottom-up approaches
  • Identified ERP system requirements and shortlisted vendors through stakeholder engagement
Feb 2018 - Oct 2020

Group Finance Manager

Zilingo Group Singapore

E-commerce fashion platform. 10 subsidiaries across 9 countries. Reporting to Group Finance Director, managing 9 finance and 2 admin staff.

  • Managed the financial due diligence for a $226M Series-D fundraising round, coordinated with investors, prepared data rooms, and answered hundreds of diligence questions
  • Accounted for the acquisition of a Sri Lankan SaaS company ($15M deal value), purchase price allocation, fair value adjustments, and consolidation
  • Cut operating expenses by 37% by renegotiating vendor contracts and eliminating redundant software licenses
  • Built the in-house finance team from a handful of people to a team of nine across Singapore, India, Malaysia, and Hong Kong
Oct 2016 - Jan 2018

Executive - Assurance

Ernst & Young Bangalore, India

Statutory audits of Indian entities within the EY Assurance practice.

  • Consolidated audit support and quarter review of GMR Group (161 subsidiaries, highways, airports, energy)
  • Statutory audit under US GAAP for US, APJ, Saudi Arabia, and EMEA regions for HP Inc
  • Indian statutory audit for Critix India and GMR Vemagiri Power Generation Limited
Jul 2013 - Jul 2016

Intern

Chandramohan K.Y. & Co. Mangalore, India

Chartered Accountant consultancy providing tax assessment and audit services for individuals, partnership firms, and private companies.

  • Handled income tax returns, tax computations, advance tax filing, assessments, and secretarial compliances
  • Conducted audits across newspaper/printing, pharmaceuticals, marine survey, and construction sectors
  • Prepared budgets, projections, and condensed financial reports for New Mangalore Port Trust

Qualifications

2016

Chartered Accountancy

Institute of Chartered Accountants of India

Cleared all exams on the first attempt

2019

Diploma in IFRS

ACCA

Diploma in International Financial Reporting Standards

2013

Bachelors in Commerce

St Aloysius College, Mangalore

University topper of the 2013 batch, Gold Medallist

Let's Connect

Happy to talk finance leadership, cross-border operations, or new opportunities.

Email jocelynlobo@outlook.com
LinkedIn jocelyn-lobo
Location Dubai, United Arab Emirates